PLO: Abbas should resolve crisis

Organization's Executive Committee holds special meeting, calls on Palestinian PM Haniyeh to resign from office. Committee members say President Abbas should exercise his powers in order to resolve political crisis in PA

Ali Waked
Published: 12.01.06, 20:44 / Israel News

The PLO's Executive Committee called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Friday to exercise his powers in order to resolve the political crisis in the Palestinian Authority.

Stalemate

Abbas: Talks on unity gov't at dead end / Ali Waked

In meeting with US secretary of state, Palestinian president says that despite efforts to establish unity government in PA with Fatah and Hamas, there is no progress in negotiations. Rice says she hopes Abbas will succeed in establishing government which will be honored by international community

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The Committee had apparently referred to the president's authority to dissolve the government.

The Committee also called on Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh to resign his post, in order to pave the way for the establishment of a national unity government.

The Executive Committee held a special meeting to address the dead-end in negotiations over a unity government, and estimates that such a government is not likely to be formed, given the current situation in the PA.

Committee members said that Haniyeh must resign before contacts between Hamas and Fatah are resumed.

'Hamas behind stalled talks'

A statement issued by the Committee declared that the failure to establish a unity government stems from obstacles placed by Hamas, which insisted on having the next government affiliated, predominately, with Hamas.

"The organization's (Hamas') demands would not allow for a lifting of the economic blockade imposed on the Palestinian Authority, since there is no clear commitment by the organization to recognize previously-signed treaties with Israel and the Arab peace initiative," the statement read.

The talks between Hamas and Fatah over a unity government have been suspended in recent days, and the two sides are currently engaged in a mutual exchange of accusations regarding who is responsible for the negotiations' failure.

Hamas members accuse Fatah of attempting to stage a coup d'etat against the Palestinian government, while Fatah claims that Hamas was refusing to compromise.

"We were willing to concede the Foreign and Finance portfolios, as long as people accepted by the international community are appointed to the posts, in order to regain the financial support for the Authority. But Hamas rejected any compromise, and all they did was try stalling for time," a Fatah official charged.

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